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Abbas Feeling Heavy-Handed Pressure
By Stephen Lendman
10-2-11

Washington wants Abbas' UN membership Security Council
application tabled in limbo for months. On September 28, it was sent to
a standing admissions committee.

On September 30, New York Times writer Neil MacFarquhar
headlined, "Palestinian Request Sent to Experts," saying:

"The Security Council membership committee referred
the Palestinian request for full (UN) membership to its experts on Friday
to evaluate whether it meets the criteria for statehood."

In fact, Palestine's been fully qualified and ready for
63 years. An initial UN report may be issued by mid-October. However, Washington,
Israel, and key EU allies want further action conditional on restarting
peace process talks that never worked before and won't now.

On September 29, The Palestine Telegraph (PT) headlined,
"Exclusive: The last minute deal of Abbas-Obama - Reviving Peace Process,"
saying:

A "(w)ell informed (PT) source (said) a deal had
been struck between" Washington and the PA before Abbas' September
23 General Assembly address.

Meeting with Secretary of State Clinton, Abbas and chief
negotiator Saeb Erekat were "threatened) with sanctions" if full
UN membership was pursued.

A face saving way was discussed to back down. Both sides
also agreed to resume peace process talks even though Abbas up to now refused
unless settlement construction stops.

Obama then applied more pressure privately to drop UN
membership plans entirely. According to the unnamed source, Abbas said
if he agreed he'd "be politically dead. Palestinian Authority will
be dead and peace will never be achieved."

An agreement was reached for Abbas to moderate his planned
UN address. Obama also "requested that the Palestinian Authority ease
the diplomatic pressure on the UN bodies. The meeting and its outcome was
never announced."

Nonetheless, Abbas returned to Ramallah with marching
orders to resume talks while settlement construction on stolen Palestinian
land continues apace.

In near daily articles for weeks, this writer rated chances
for official statehood recognition and full UN membership zero. If PT's
source is accurate, it's virtually certain.

Membership discussions will "continue to deliberate
over technical matters as long as (Quartet members) are leading efforts
to renew (peace) negotiations...."

According to an unnamed Western diplomat, Washington
and its Western allies "have a special interest in 'dragging' the
debate on" to let Israel and PA negotiators resume talks both sides
know will continue for months with one of two possible outcomes - either
unconditional Palestinian surrender to Israeli demands or no final resolution.

The diplomat added:

"There is no announcement expected - either positive
or negative - regarding the Palestinian application until the (SC) members
(exhaust all) diplomatic avenues...."

At issue is pitting heavily "aid-dependent"
Palestinians against rogue US and Israeli administrations, using heavy-handed
intimidation and threats to subvert Palestinian UN membership.

In fact, "Western (SC) diplomats....say the Palestinian
UN bid is doomed to failure due to US opposition."

On September 26, House Subcommittee on Middle East and
South Asia Rep. Gary Ackerman (D. NY) said:

"(T)here may need to be a total cutoff of all aid
to the Palestinians for pursuing this course of action which is very dangerous
and ill advised."

"They should think twice, reverse course and get
back to the negotiating table where (Netanyahu) awaits them."

Of course, that's the problem, not the solution. Both
sides know it. So does Ackerman and other pro-Israeli congressional members.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D. NY) for sure, saying:

Palestinians "have not been forced into this position,
and the circumstances are not beyond their control. They have chosen to
discontinue negotiations with Israel and pursue a counterproductive publicity
stunt. (Abbas') speech made clear he's not interested in peace...."

In other words, Lowey calls persuing long denied justice
"a publicity stunt" and reluctance to participate in no-peace
peace talks with an unwilling partner "counterproductive."

As a result, she said:

"His action crossed a line and should lead to a
reevaluation of US assistance for the Palestinian Authority."

In other words, virtually the entire Congress and all
administrations go along with whatever Israel and its US Lobby want, including
blocking life-sustaining humanitarian aid.

On July 7, House members voted 407 - 6 to block it if
PA officials pursued UN membership. In June, Senate members approved a
similar measure unanimously.

A Final Comment

On October 1, Ma'an News said Hamas Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh supports "a Palestinian state on liberated lands, but not
in exchange for recognizing Israel or giving up rights."

On Friday, he explained that Palestinians have struggled
for over 60 years to liberate their land and regain their rights, including
letting diaspora refugees freely return, adding:

"We support (creating a) state that reflects the
Palestinian people's dignity, and we won't beg for a state. We will continue
the fight and remain steadfast because we feel victory is near."

On October 1, Haaretz said Khaled Meshal, Chairman of
the Hamas Political Committee, believes only through "resistance"
can Palestinians achieve long denied justice, saying:

"Palestinians must resort to resistance no matter
how costly it is, until Palestine is free..."

Many other Palestinians also feel that liberation depends
on committed long-term struggle.

In fact, it's how all great victories are won everywhere
that never come easily or quickly.

Palestinians have been struggling for over 63 years and
won't quit until one day commitment brings freedom on their own land in
their own country.

It's not if, but when. It's just a matter of time working
for them against Israel and other dark opposition forces.

Justice comes to those committed long enough to stay
the course whatever the obstacles. Palestinians are committed.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
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